Iron Rods and Steel Dealers Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has commended the 10th Federal House of Representatives for taking steps against the proliferation of substandard steel products, which it said has, over the years, threatened safety and growth of Nigerians and Nigeria’s economy.
President of the Union, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, while reacting to a motion on notice, which sought to curb the proliferation of substandard steel products in Nigeria, sponsored by Hon. Aluko Ahmed Yinka representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency and unanimously approved with amendment during one of its plenaries, said that the development stands the 10th Assembly out as one truly committed to greater good and welfare of the people.
Awoyale noted that the proactive approach of the 10th National Assembly to curb the rising surge of substandard steel products, which he said has resulted in several building collapses, claiming lives and fortunes across the country, is well acknowledged.
He, however, noted that “while the resolve of the House of Representatives to stop the compromising of prosecution of those found culpable in the act of manufacturing substandard steel products through effective enforcement is highly commendable, we are open to collaboration with the 10th NASS for the conduct of a thorough oversight that will rid Nigeria of substandard steel products and guarantee the safety of lives and property of Nigerians.
“I also wish to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, in the best interest of our dear country, give total support to the noble course the parliament had begun. For a safe construction industry in Nigeria, there is a critical need for thorough cleansing of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON); the saboteurs in there, who collaborate with the foreign interests majorly culpable of substandard steel production, must be weeded out.
“Just last week, substandard steel products worth over a billion Naira were seized in seven different steel rolling mills, but because such culprits weren’t prosecuted, they are back in the business of substandard production after paying official fines and getting their ways to boycott prosecution or even scrap and reproduce the products. As I speak. Meanwhile, building collapse is a continuous recurring decimal, two were recorded in the last month in Benue and Lagos state, respectively. This has to stop”, he said.
Awoyale added, “These manufacturers had signed indemnity to the effect that whatever quantum of substandard products they are caught to have produced, it would be scrapped to reproduce standard quality. However, the case is not so. These substandard products were loaded for distribution to Nigerian markets right in the presence of SON officials.
He stressed that “specifically, the SON officials, when alerted to supervise the production of steel in Northern Nigeria, they always resist simply because of a former DG of the organization who owns one of the major steel rolling mills in northern Nigeria. This compromising act is not limited to steel products, virtually all products under SON supervision have been compromised.
“Although, as dealers, we make more money trading in substandard products, it is ungodly to distribute harmful products for the consumption of fellow Nigerians deliberately. That is why we are making this much sacrifice and willing to make much more.
“Unfortunately, Nigerians like us are conniving with foreigners to perpetrate this level of economic sabotage. We have been facing threats from these Indian companies and even SON officials, but we are unwavering in our resolve to stop production and circulation of substandard steel products in Nigeria. All we need is the political will to sanitize the steel production industry in Nigeria and guarantee a safe construction environment”, he said.
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